Roundup weedkiller

[goldypops]

I used some roundup on a big patch of docks in the field 10 days ago. The horses have been kept off the area. When is it safe to let them back on there? The docks have gone brown so I could chop them down but I am a bit worried about the patch of dead grass around each one. The grass is too short for me to cut but is it ok for the horses to eat or will they avoid it anyway?

 

[Miss L Toe]

It is difficult to be certain, probably three weeks is the general guideline.
You could use a strimmer and remove the debris. The Roundup has no residual poison, it works by increasing plant hormones, so they grow too fast and die.
To be honest, to kill most weeds in grass you should use a selective weedkiller and use when they are very small.
For small areas use a fine mist sprayer with Weedol, for larger areas use a farmer.
PS, was browsing the Health and Safety Website, pressed H for herbicide, got Pesticide, talk about foolish logic, what idiots.

 

[jrp204]

You can graze 'roundup'd' pasture, as MissLtoe said he has no residual effect so i really wouldn't worry. I doubt they'll touch the dead stuff anyway.

 

[Miss L Toe]

Here is a good website
http://www.progreen.co.uk/weed-killers/selectively-control-weeds-in-grass/for-paddocks/cat_28.html

 

[flyingfeet]

Roundup (glyphosate) actually quite benign and a weeks clearance should do for weeds that are not poisonous

The chemical sales people used to drink glyphosate and write their name on the grass (still works after being passed through a human... don't try this at home)

The caveat to this is if you've sprayed ragwort, as glyphosate desiccates it and makes it palatable. So if you've sprayed ragwort or anything else that's poisonous, you need to keep them clear for longer, or pull it up

 

[goldypops]

Ok, many thanks everyone you have put my mind at rest

 

[Dry Rot]

For the future, roundup really isn't a good choice except for yards, roads, etc. as it kills everything, leaving a nice bare patch for new seedlings to populate so you end up with more weeds than before! Much better to use a selective herbicide in grassland.

 

[goldypops]

Good point, thanks. It was just I had some round up anyway for clearing round the yard and used it in a spray bottle with the hope that I would just "hit" the docks.....obviously not!